Cloning and expression patterns of the brine shrimp (Artemia sinica) glycogen phosphorylase (GPase) gene during development and in response to temperature stress.

Glycogen serves as a metabolic reserve and is involved in macromolecular synthesis. Glycogen phosphorylase (GPase) is a key enzyme involved in intracellular glycogen catabolism, catalyzing the first step in glycogen degradation. In the diapause, GPase catalyzes glycogen into the closely related molecule, sorbitol.

Decreased Tim-3 and its correlation with Th1 cells in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

Here we evaluate the expression of Tim-3 in CD4+ T cells from patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). We also counted platelets and evaluated plasma IFN-γ, IL-18 and IL-4 levels in patients with active ITP (n=26), patients with ITP in remission (n=23) and in healthy subjects (n=34) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the mRNA expression of IL-18, IFN-γ, IL-4, T-box (T-bet) and Tim-3 was studied in the blood.

Recombinant human thrombopoietin in combination with cyclosporin A as a novel therapy in corticosteroid-resistant primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: The management of patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is challenging, as there is no standard treatment option. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in combination with cyclosporin A (CsA) for the management of patients with corticosteroid-resistant primary ITP.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with corticosteroid-resistant ITP were randomly divided into an observation group and control group.

Thalidomide corrects impaired mesenchymal stem cell function in inducing tolerogenic DCs in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

Thalidomide (THD) is an immunomodulatory agent used to treat immune-mediated diseases. Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder in which impaired mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are potentially involved. We demonstrated that MSCs in ITP patients had reduced proliferative capacity and lost their immunosuppressive function, which could be corrected with THD treatment.

Differences in gene expression and cytokine levels between newly diagnosed and chronic pediatric ITP.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease where platelets are destroyed prematurely. In the majority of children the disease resolves, but in some it becomes chronic. To investigate whether these 2 phases of the disease are molecularly similar or separate entities we performed DNA microarray analysis (GEO accession number: GSE46922) of T-cells from newly diagnosed children and children with chronic ITP.

Immune thrombocytopenia and B-cell-activating factor/a proliferation-inducing ligand.

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an organ-specific autoimmune disorder characterized by autoantibody-mediated enhanced platelet destruction and dysmegakaryocytopoiesis. B cells have been demonstrated to play critical roles in the pathophysiology of ITP. B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are crucial cytokines supporting survival and differentiation of B cells, and dysregulation of BAFF/APRIL is involved in the pathogenesis of B-cell related autoimmune diseases including ITP.

Cloning and expression of the sorbitol dehydrogenase gene during embryonic development and temperature stress in Artemia sinica.

Sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) catalyzes the interconversion of polyols and ketoses, using zinc and NAD(+) as cofactors. SDH converts sorbitol into fructose and plays an important role in the sorbitol metabolic pathway and in the early embryonic development of many invertebrates. Sorbitol usually accumulates in diapause embryos of insects to protect the embryos from frostbite, which indicates the vital function of SDH in the diapause and diapause-termination stages of embryo development.

Characterization of Th1- and Th2-associated chemokine receptor expression in spleens of patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

Purpose: In view of the numerous clinical observations and laboratory studies that suggest a critical role for the spleen in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) pathophysiology, we aimed to characterize Th1-associated chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR5 and Th2-associated chemokine receptor CCR3 in spleens of ITP patients and assess the significance of their differential expression in the clinical setting.

Methods: The histopathology of spleens was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE), and the positive rate of CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR3 expression in spleens of 24 ITP patients and 12 patients with traumatic splenic rupture as normal controls was detected by immunohistochemistry using the SP method. CXCR3, CCR5 and CCR3 protein expression was analyzed by Western blot and mRNA levels were investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Expression patterns of As-ClC gene of Artemia sinica in early development and under salinity stress.

As-ClC (chloride channels protein from Artemia sinica), a member from the chloride channels protein family, is a α-helical membrane protein predicted to traverse the cell membrane 11 times. It is important for several physiological functions such as cell volume regulation, cell proliferation, growth and differentiation. In this paper, the complete cDNA sequence of As-CIC was cloned from A.

Th22 cells as well as Th17 cells expand differentially in patients with early-stage and late-stage myelodysplastic syndrome.

Background: Immunological mechanisms are increasingly recognized in the progression of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Early-stage MDS (E-MDS) is characterized by autoimmune-mediated myelosuppression whereas late-stage MDS (L-MDS) involves immune evasion, giving dysplastic cells growth potential to progress into acute myeloid leukemia. T-helper (Th) 22 is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory autoimmunity and tumorigenesis.

Changes of lymph metabolites in a rat model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture.

Background: Sepsis is a clinical syndrome defined by a systemic response to infection and remains a prevalent clinical challenge. The underlying pathophysiology of sepsis is poorly understood. Using a metabolomic method, the present study observed changes in lymph composition during sepsis in a septic model in an attempt to find out new biomarkers for the early diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

Expression of IL-27, Th1 and Th17 in patients with aplastic anemia.

Background: Aplastic anemia (AA) is an autoimmune disease and interleukin-27 (IL-27) is an important cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. To date there have been no reports concerning the intrinsic association among IL-27 and Thelper (Th) 1 and Th17 cells in AA.

Materials And Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to assay IL-27, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IL-17 levels, flow cytometry to measure the percentages of Th1 and Th17 cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the mRNA levels of IL-27, IFN-γ, T-bet and IL-17 and retinoid related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt) in PBMCs were performed.

The association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms of ORAI1 gene and breast cancer in a Taiwanese population.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. There is increasing evidence suggesting that ORAI1, components of store-operated calcium channel, play a pivotal role in breast cancer progression and metastasis.

Methods: A total of 384 female patients with breast cancer were included in this study.

A multicenter randomized controlled trial of recombinant human thrombopoietin treatment in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

This multicenter, randomized trial assessed the efficacy and safety of a recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) in patients with persistent primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who had failed glucocorticosteroid treatment. A total of 140 eligible patients were randomized to receive rhTPO + danazol (rhTPO group, 73 patients) or danazol (control group, 67 patients) alone. During the first phase, the increase in the mean maximal platelet counts (101.

[Allelopathy of Hydrodictyon reticulatum on Microcystis aeruginosa and its removal capacity on nitrogen and phosphorus].

The effects of liquid culture after cultured with Hydrodictyon reticulatum on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa were investigated by measuring the D680 value and the chlorophyll-a content of M. aeruginosa. The inhibitory effects of H.

Elevated profiles of Th22 cells and correlations with Th17 cells in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

T-helper (Th) 22 and Th17 cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, the role of Th22 cells in the pathophysiology of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remains unclear. Th22, Th17 and Th1 cells in both ITP patients and healthy controls were examined by flow cytometry.

A highly stable anode, carbon-free, catalyst support based on tungsten trioxide nanoclusters for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.

Durability is an important issue in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). One of the major challenges lies in the degradation caused by the oxidation of the carbon support under high anode potentials (under fuel starvation conditions). Herein, we report highly stable, carbon-free, WO(3) nanoclusters as catalyst supports.

Decreased indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression in dendritic cells and role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-expressing dendritic cells in immune thrombocytopenia.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression in dendritic cells (DCs) can induce or maintain peripheral immune tolerance. Impaired IDO-mediated tryptophan catabolism has been observed in autoimmune diseases. In order to investigate the effects of IDO-mediated tryptophan catabolism and IDO-expressing DCs in immune thrombocytopenia, the concentrations of kynurenine were detected by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Regulation of Th1/Th2 polarization by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 via modulating dendritic cells.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) is one of a family of proteins inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases, which has also been identified as a mediator for checking inflammation. Meanwhile, it is well known that inflammation causes the activation of the immune response. However, it is not clear whether TIMP-3 plays a role in the immune system.